Get the flak jackets out. The Prime Minister's announcement of the election date heralds the start of what is shaping to be the nastiest, ugliest and dirtiest election campaign in living memory.

Why? Because the two major parties line up against each other in a fashion that departs from the norm. Look back at past elections and the results fall into two categories: a Government defeated because it was on its last legs or an Opposition party losing because it was not ready to govern.

This election has a governing party still addicted to power and an Opposition one simply desperate for power. There is also a paradox - an obvious mood for change but little real hatred of the governing party.

On one side stands Labour, with an iron-willed leader who has rallied and refreshed her tiring team and is hell-bent on retaining occupancy of the ministerial suites in the Beehive.

On the other side stands National. There are still questions about its readiness to govern, but not its determination to do so. National has been out of power for nine years. A further three years in Opposition is simply not an option.

National has positioned itself to win. Not only has it rebuilt itself as a true conservative party closer to the thinking of most New Zealanders, rather than a radical party of the right, but it also has a leader who carries none of the baggage from the last time National was in government.

The problem is that many of his front-bench colleagues do. That is why Helen Clark intends making this election about "trust". That suggests hers will be more a negative campaign than a positive one.

Her problem is that her Government has become mired in seemingly endless distractions and seems to have lost focus. That is why John Key is making this election about NZ turning a fresh page with a new Government.

There was no surprise in the date Clark has set for the election.

November 8 has been the obvious date for a long time. It allows time for the economy to start going into the upturn the Treasury is predicting for the last quarter of this year.

It allows time for Labour's tax cuts to register with voters. It allows for the possibility of a further cut in interest rates by the Reserve Bank.

Above all, it allows more time for Labour to take the gloss off Key. Election campaigns are increasingly about the leaders and leadership. Policies take a back seat. Clark may not be spectacular, but she will be safe.

Key's political instincts are solid. But they will tempt him to take some risks. Some may pay off. But he will make mistakes. They won't matter if they are minor. They will if they are major.

An opinion poll released today shows a significant increase in support for Labour, and National's lead has been reduced to just 6.5 percentage points.

The New Zealand Morgan poll was the best news for the Government in a long time and follows the trend of other recent surveys which have shown the gap narrowing.

Labour gained four points to 38 percent support while National slipped 3.5 points to 44.5 percent.

On August 24 a TV3/TNS poll showed a similar result, with National's lead down to 11 points compared with 16 points earlier in the year.

On August 28 a New Zealand Herald/DigiPoll showed a gap of 13.7 points compared with 24.6 points in July.

Morgan researchers said the 6.5 point gap was the closest in nearly a year, since October 2007 when National was on 45 percent and Labour on 40 percent.

"The lack of clear policy direction from the opposition National Party has given (Prime Minister) Helen Clark and Labour renewed hope of winning an unlikely election victory, as National has yet to make the case for why it deserves to form the next government," they said.

The poll questioned 841 voters between August 18 and 31, covering the problems encountered by New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters.

It showed that NZ First was suffering -- down four points to 2.5 percent -- but the controversy had not rubbed off on the Government.

The poll showed the Greens up half a point to 8 percent and the Maori Party up 1.5 points to 3.5 percent. ACT was unchanged on 1.5 percent and the other minor parties were around 1 percent.

The results indicate that although National still holds the lead, Labour and the Greens could outflank it unless one of the minor parties decided to support National.

6/8/8-13/8/8

Ok so just got back today 4rm Fiji!spent a week inNadi, Fiji at Sonasali Island Beach Resort!and honestly had the time of my life!!it is soo wonderfull and amazing!!!!I just didnt want my holiday to end!!!!!soo going back tho!!!I miss it already!the people, beach, sun, heat, cocktails, pool and island life!

Sooo many memorable moments here are a few in a nut shell........

The Wedding of Cy & Stacey!

The whole point of the trip....Omg how sweet!!!after 12 years it has finally happened!!!it was a honour and a privilidge to have shared that moment with you 2!!!ive griown up knowing u guys and ur lovely family and yeah wow!!it was soo joyous to see you finally tie the knot!go you 2!I know ur marriage will last!!!!and lol ur kids just crack me up!haha Jamison is just cheeky!Tayne v funny and nice!thnx 4 being my slave and getting me stuff @ breakfast!haha and claudia is just a diva!haha lol and no nick names ayee!!!!haha

The Resort life!

Wow!!!!the resort was just gorgeous!!!!set on an island with an amazing view of the sea!!!!!beautifull pool, resturant and bar!!!!gosh i could live like that forever!!!!very relaxing lying poolside or beachside with a drinkl, just lying in the sun...OMG!it is just an amazing feeling! but yeah I just toa\tally enjoed everything the resort had to offer!!!!the activites we did included, a shopping trip to Nadi which was hilarious cos every 1 would just pester you to buy this and that & wouldnt let you leave without buying anything!haha it was too funny!what an experience!we also did snorkelling which is exactly like it is in the pictures, kayacking which was a challenge, pedal boating which was a laugh, frog racing- mine came last lol, Watching Fijian traditional performances which was too funny- can they not choose me to do the meke and mcarena with them!haha, doing the limbo-lol can i not do club moves as in drop down low!haha i fell on my back!lol, gatecrashng weddings!lol thnx 4 the cake!haha and omg free buffet breakfast every morning was a highlight!gonna miss my eggs, bacon, frenchtoast and hash browns!

The people!

Omg evryone in Fiji are soo happy!!!!i mean seriously all i heard and saw was BULA this and SMILES that!made my holiday when people are just soo bubbly!i mean they may not have much!but they have the best qualities in this world that money cant buy!warmth, love and happiness!special shout out to all the staff at Sonasali Beach Resort!honestly you are all soo wonderfull and kind!made my trip!special mention to Sala!(ofcourse), Sanjay(Mr Receptionist haha), Tupou, Andrew(Mr Bartender haha), Sera, Ariata, Sariana, Mary, Helen, Va, Margi!thanks for the luv guys!yall truly special!and thnx 4 the free drinks too!lol...and yall betta email me!lol

The group & Resort antics!

OK so it ws like a group of 20 of us who came to see the wedding!so good to meet and see you all!!!!!Haha ok so it was me leighton and kayla in our hotel room!haha thanks guys for putting up with my long showers and taking agges to get ready!haha soo funn spending time with my best friend!haha it was like school all over again!haha and lol the highlight was the revelations of you know what!!hahaha funny night!!..."Well you know what they say!"hahaha classic!and lol kayla sculling all that vodka!haha....and it was basicly a party every night!haha thnx Ant and Kylie for hosting them!haha you guys r too cute!you both have amazing hearts!haha and to the rest of the group too!nice to meet you all!!too many to mention!but yea!thanks for the funn times!!!!you all crack me up!!It was really nice to meet all these randoms too!Karen Harding!lol infamous criminal defence attorney (apparently!)haha, Catherine Darling- thnx 4 ur company) and just a shout out to all the other people who just made my holiday too funny...the whale , the biggest loser contestants, Mr & Mrs Boring, and ofcourse Deli-shhhzzzz!haha gosh stare bear!haha you were just too late!wish i stayed longer!



But yeah ju